Nursery at Cardinham School

Welcome to Cardinham School Nursery

A very warm welcome to Cardinham School Nursery.

At Cardinham School, our Nursery children are a valued and important part of our school community from their very first day. Nursery is fully integrated within our Hedgehog Class, meaning that our youngest learners learn alongside and interact regularly with older children throughout the day. This provides a wealth of opportunities for children to develop confidence, independence and social skills while building positive relationships across the class.

Being part of the wider Hedgehog Class creates a seamless transition into Reception, as children become familiar with routines, expectations, learning environments and staff long before they move into the next stage of their education. We believe this approach helps children feel secure, confident and ready for the challenges of school life.

Children in Nursery are taught by Mrs Butler, who leads Nursery provision throughout the week. Mrs Butler works closely with the EYFS team to ensure every child feels happy, safe and supported as they begin their learning journey.

We are incredibly fortunate to have access to our beautiful outdoor environment, including Woodside, which forms an important part of the children's learning experience. Children regularly explore and learn outdoors, developing their curiosity, creativity, resilience and understanding of the natural world through first-hand experiences.

Our Ethos

At Cardinham School, we believe that every child deserves the very best start in life. We provide a nurturing, inclusive and stimulating environment where children feel safe, valued and inspired to learn.

Positive relationships are at the heart of everything we do. We take time to get to know each child as an individual, celebrating their interests, strengths and unique personalities. We believe children learn best when they feel secure, happy and confident.

Through high-quality interactions, purposeful play and meaningful experiences, we encourage children to become curious, resilient, independent and enthusiastic learners. We aim to foster a lifelong love of learning while supporting children's emotional wellbeing and personal development.

Curriculum Intent

Our Nursery curriculum is designed to provide children with the knowledge, skills and experiences they need to become confident learners and prepare them for future success in Reception and beyond.

Learning is planned around the seven areas of learning within the Early Years Foundation Stage:

Prime Areas

• Communication and Language
• Physical Development
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development

Specific Areas

• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the World
• Expressive Arts and Design

Alongside these areas, we place great importance on developing the Characteristics of Effective Learning:

• Playing and Exploring
• Active Learning
• Creating and Thinking Critically

Children learn through a combination of:

• Child-initiated play
• Exploration and investigation
• Adult-guided learning opportunities
• Real-life experiences
• Indoor and outdoor learning

Our wonderful outdoor environment, including Woodside, provides rich opportunities for children to explore, take appropriate risks, solve problems and develop resilience.

These experiences build the foundations for future learning, helping children develop the communication, social, emotional and physical skills needed for school readiness and lifelong learning.

Communication, Language and Early Literacy

Communication and language development is at the centre of our Nursery curriculum.

We immerse children in language-rich experiences through:

• High-quality stories and books
• Nursery rhymes and songs
• Storytelling
• Role play and imaginative play
• Meaningful conversations
• Vocabulary-rich interactions

We recognise that strong language skills underpin all future learning. Adults carefully model language, introduce new vocabulary and create opportunities for sustained conversations throughout the day.

Children are encouraged to develop early literacy skills through:

• Sharing books and reading for pleasure
• Listening to and retelling stories
• Exploring print in the environment
• Mark-making opportunities
• Early writing experiences
• Developing fine motor control

We encourage families to support language development and early reading at home through sharing stories, singing songs, talking together and enjoying books regularly.

Daily Life in Nursery

Our daily routines provide children with consistency, security and opportunities to develop independence.

A typical day includes:

• Welcome and self-registration activities
• Child-initiated learning opportunities
• Adult-guided activities
• Story times
• Singing and rhyme sessions
• Indoor learning
• Outdoor learning
• Snack and mealtimes
• Physical development activities
• Opportunities for quiet reflection and relaxation

Children are encouraged to develop:

• Independence
• Confidence
• Self-help skills
• Personal responsibility
• Social skills

Personal care routines are supported sensitively and appropriately, helping children become increasingly independent while feeling safe and secure.

Wellbeing, Relationships and Welfare

Children's wellbeing is fundamental to successful learning.

We prioritise:

• Positive relationships
• Emotional wellbeing
• Personal, social and emotional development
• Healthy lifestyles
• Respectful interactions
• Emotional security

Our staff build warm, trusting relationships with every child, helping them feel valued and understood.

Children are supported to:

• Recognise and express emotions
• Develop friendships
• Build resilience
• Learn self-regulation strategies
• Develop confidence and self-esteem

We promote healthy lifestyles through active play, healthy eating and positive attitudes towards wellbeing.

Assessment and Progress

Assessment in Nursery is ongoing and forms an integral part of everyday practice.

We assess children's learning and development through:

• Observations
• Conversations
• Play-based interactions
• Adult-guided activities
• Information shared by families

At Cardinham School we use the ShREC approach (Share, Respond, Expand and Challenge) to support communication, language and thinking skills.

Through ShREC, adults:

• Share children's focus of attention
• Respond sensitively to children's communication
• Expand language and vocabulary
• Challenge thinking through skilful questioning

Nothing is left to chance. Every interaction is viewed as an opportunity to understand children's learning, support development and extend thinking.

Assessment information helps us:

• Identify strengths
• Recognise emerging interests
• Monitor developmental milestones
• Plan next steps in learning
• Adapt provision where necessary

We share children's progress regularly with parents and carers and work together to support their development both at home and in Nursery.

Parent Partnership

We recognise that parents and carers are children's first and most important educators.

We work closely with families through:

• Daily communication
• Parent consultations
• Informal discussions
• Learning updates
• Shared observations

Families are encouraged to contribute to their child's learning journey by sharing achievements, experiences and interests from home.

We also provide ideas for:

• Stories to share together
• Songs and rhymes
• Language activities
• Simple games
• Early maths experiences
• Outdoor learning opportunities

By working in partnership, we can provide a consistent and supportive learning experience for every child.

Inclusion and SEND

At Cardinham School, we are committed to ensuring that every child feels included, valued and successful.

We recognise that all children develop differently and may require varying levels of support to access learning and achieve their full potential.

Our inclusive practice includes:

• Adapting provision to meet individual needs
• Personalising learning experiences
• Providing additional support when required
• Working closely with families
• Liaising with external professionals where appropriate

We believe that early identification is vital. Through ongoing observation, assessment and close partnership with families, we can identify additional needs early and provide timely support.

Our Nursery staff work closely with the school's SENDCo to ensure children receive the right support at the right time.

Further information can be found in the school's:

• SEND Information Report
• SEND Policy

available on the school website.

Starting Nursery

We want every child to have a happy and successful start to Nursery.

Information regarding:

• Admissions
• Funded childcare entitlements
• Application procedures
• Session availability

can be obtained from the school office.

Prior to starting Nursery, families will be offered opportunities to:

• Visit the setting
• Meet staff
• Discuss their child's needs
• Attend settling-in sessions

We understand that starting Nursery is a significant milestone and work closely with families to ensure children settle confidently into their new environment.

Transition to Reception and School Readiness

Our integrated Hedgehog Class provides excellent preparation for Reception.

Throughout their time in Nursery, children develop:

• Independence
• Communication skills
• Physical development
• Social skills
• Emotional resilience
• Confidence as learners

Because Nursery children learn alongside Reception pupils and become familiar with classroom expectations and routines, transitions into Reception are smooth and positive.

We work closely with families and Reception staff to ensure children are fully prepared for the next stage of their educational journey.

Practical Information for Families

Information regarding:

• Session times
• Attendance expectations
• Meals and snacks
• Clothing and footwear
• Spare clothes
• Waterproofs and outdoor learning clothing
• Collection arrangements
• Key contacts

will be shared with families upon admission and can also be found through the school office.

We encourage families to dress children appropriately for outdoor learning in all seasons so they can fully benefit from the rich experiences available across our school grounds and Woodside.

Keeping Children Safe

At Cardinham School, the safety and wellbeing of children is our highest priority.

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, and we are committed to providing a safe, nurturing and supportive environment where children can learn, develop and thrive.

For further information, families are encouraged to visit the school's:

• Safeguarding page
• Attendance page
• Online Safety page

These pages provide important information about how we keep children safe, promote positive attendance and support children to use technology safely and responsibly.